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Remembering and forgetting childhood sexual abuse
Robyn Fivush1, Valerie J Edwards
1Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. psyrf@emory.edu
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse
|September 25, 2004
Summary
Childhood sexual abuse survivors often experience periods of not recalling abuse, yet never truly forget. Continuous memories may correlate with longer, more coherent narratives, impacting understanding of recovered memories.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Trauma Studies
- Memory Research
Background:
- Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a significant trauma.
- Memory processes in CSA survivors are complex and debated.
- Understanding the dynamics of remembering and forgetting CSA is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the narrative accounts of childhood sexual abuse.
- To investigate the interplay of remembering and forgetting in CSA survivors.
- To examine the characteristics of continuous versus non-continuous memory.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative analysis of narratives from twelve CSA survivors.
- Interviews focused on abuse experiences and subsequent memory recall.
- Exploration of active forgetting attempts and intrusive memories.
Main Results:
- Most participants reported periods of non-recall alongside claims of never forgetting.
- Nine survivors actively tried to forget CSA, yet eight experienced persistent intrusive memories.
- Women with continuous memories tended to have longer, more coherent narratives.
Conclusions:
- Memory experiences in CSA survivors are multifaceted, involving both forgetting and persistent recall.
- The concept of "recovered" memories requires nuanced understanding.
- Narrative coherence may be linked to memory continuity in CSA survivors.